November 24, 2009 eight soldiers of Christ began their day at 6:00 a.m. on the sidewalks in front of Broughton High School in downtown Raleigh as they set up to greet incoming teachers and students.   

We witnessed with verbal dialogue to the “Gospel of Life,” with posters of Jim Pouillon along with both life in the womb and death by abortion from eight weeks to 21 weeks gestation. Hundreds of informative tracts (non-graphic) were passed out to students and a few parents.  All material handed out was in regard to the perils of sexual promiscuity, which should never result in a decision of abortion, leaving behind a dead child with the mother scarred in mind, body and soul. 

Prophetically our work was preceded in the November 22, 2009 News & Observer (Section B, pages 1 and 2) by a two page article reporting a rising outbreak of venereal diseases amongst high school teens in North Carolina .  The article included a reference to “contraception” being taught as now required by law, as opposed to formerly only teaching abstinence.  Directly adjoining this article was a photo of the Broughton High School marching band in a parade.

Soon after our witness began on the adjoining public sidewalks we were required to defend our rights  of “Freedom of Speech” in the face of several contentious challenges by the principal and vice principal of the high school who had been pre-notified by copy of the permit which we were issued and acting within.  Upon mutually agreeing to obtain and follow determinations by the Raleigh police department, a sidewalk conference with the police took place.  The results,  as an example, a minor suggestion for one of our soldiers to take one step forward on the sidewalk and to not reach out at arm’s length with literature being passed out to students.  Everything else was fine and we were otherwise allowed to continue as we had been.  “Our Freedom of Speech” was defended!

The students were very polite, interested and inquisitive of the truths portrayed by our posters, receptive to dialogue while accepting literature offered and often taking extra copies to share with friends.  From 6:30 until 7:55 a.m. while students were walking into school we all experienced individual encounters as exemplified by the following:   

My wife Jeanette, the only woman with us, was most effective with the students in dialogue and literature handouts.   She related having spiritually consoled a gentle female student, very much pro-life, who in great sorrow shared an album of pictures of her little boy born prematurely at 21 weeks, whom she was able to hold in her loving arms.  He lived for only three hours.  She also had a photo of the baby’s father and told Jeanette that their son looked like him and yes, they gave him a name and yes, the little boy’s dad has not abandoned the mom.      

Our brother Vince, a Knight of Columbus, came to experience the first hand persecution we can all expect to receive when standing up for truth against today’s death culture.  A women drove up to where Vince was standing and recognizing her, (their sons played sports together), he greeted her with niceties.  But the women wanted no part of niceness, blew a gasket and immediately started to scream four letter epitaph’s at him through her car window, which continued non-stop towards the rest of us for half a block as she drove away still cursing at the wind, while banging her hands on her steering wheel. 

Some parents were similarly upset with our witness to truth, others were indifferent and a few approved.   Another mother angrily expressed her objections while exhibiting an Obama sticker on the back window.  This brings to mind the thought of how difficult it must be for parents to explain supporting “choice” when their children are exposed to the truth of its meaning. 

Another mother stopped, rolled down her window and emphatically asked, “Do you know what you need?”  Upon bracing myself for a complaint, she continued, “A sign that says ‘Abstinence Prevents Murder!’”   Upon accepting samples of our literature which combined the very same message she thanked us again for being there.  We will make up that sign!

Then an amazing experience happened shortly after school began and the sidewalks had quieted down.  The teacher of the class “Law and Justice” brought his entire class out into the adjoining parking lot and sidewalks of Peace Street to spend time with us to determine why we were in front of their school.   The students were eager to listen to us and quickly learned it was not to protest but to bring them the truths about life.  They looked on with disbelief and sadness at the various posters of different stages of life, both in the womb and as aborted.  Their teacher having acknowledged not being pro-life was challenged to rethink the facts in his position of choice.               

We gathered to share individual experiences with an ending prayer on the corner of St. Mary’s and Peace Street .  After experiencing the good work accomplished, we all felt spiritually elated and uplifted by the results, stating what a great experience it had been and looking forward to continuing this crusade each month at a different high school until each and every high school  in Wake County has received the “Gospel of Life.”   The harvest was realized by all to be potentially great.  We agreed that more people participating (especially more women) would multiply the effort proportionately.  If just one live is saved, it is all worth the effort.   As with Jim Pouillon’s efforts while still on earth, only God knows how many children’s lives and parents souls will be saved.

 As we prepared to depart, the Lord sent us one more sign to forge on for just then another mother pulled up to the curb and thanked us profusely for being here this morning with such truth’s for the students.

Our prayers were answered; the “Words of Life” successfully went out in a loving and peaceful manner.  Our right to “Freedom of Speech” on public property was defended and supported by the Raleigh Police Department.  Life is never boring in the service of “Jesus Christ Our Lord” on the sidewalks.

It was gratifying to observe the sea of students with literature in hand, sticking out of back pockets or tucked away in a binder.  None were thrown on the sidewalks.   The seeds of truth reached so very many and our mission will continue in Wake County .  Please consider joining us at the next scheduled “Outreach for Truth” event to be this month, December 2009.   We need you.  We need your presence to spread the truth to the teens, the future church of America .

  “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?”  Psalm 94:16